TJPlatinumEB

To start off, the goal of this stereo is to be as inconspicuous as possible. No permanent modifications to the truck of any kind and still utilize the stock deck. This is by no means a high quality build, but I have experience with these products and brands and have always been pleased with them. I have only had the truck 3 weeks, but the stock stereo left A LOT to be desired and with only 2000 miles on her, it was time to make some upgrades

The ONLY item that I did have and didn't have to buy was the sub amp. Aside from that, I have less than $750 invested in the entire thing with all harnesses and extras included.

And here.....we.....go.....



Here is everything minus the sub and box going into the truck:

- 2 pairs of Infinify Kappa 682.9cf speakers
- Rockford Fosgate Prime R500-1 for Sub
- Rockford Fosgate Prime R300-4 for Speakers
- 1 Kicker CVT 12 in custom under seat box (purchased from Ebay seller who makes REALLY HIGH quality boxes. I bought one for my 2005 FX4 and it was perfect. Loaded box with sub of your choice for under $250 to your door)
- MTX re-Q5 for sound processing
- Metra BT-5520 harness for stock deck integration
- 2 pairs Metra 72-5600 for stock speaker wire adapting (no splicing)
- 50ft 9 wire for speaker wire run x2 and remote wire
- Metra Ballistic SSSK sound dampener for speakers
- Various wiring, connectors, etc

The install is about 95% done now so I thought it would make this thread for those interested. I have a little more tidying up to do with the wiring and some more adjustments to make with the amps and processor, but all in all, its sounding great and everything works through the stock deck with Sync and the steering wheel controls also. The Metra harness truly makes it a plug and play install and if I ever want to remove everything, going back to stock behind the dash would be a VERY quick adjustment. Heck the hardest part was getting the power wire routed effectively

I had to change my mounting plans half way through, so bear with me with things looking a little different at the end

Here is how the amps and processor WERE sitting prior to putting the back wall cover back on. Note that I have the rear defroster AND power slider, so it made mounting options almost non existent.


Here is a more up close shot of the MTX re-Q5 and where both amps and the re-Q are grounded using the rear defrosters grounding point in the upper right hand portion of this picture.


Another picture showing how the amps and the giant birds nest of wire were back there prior to final mounting


Here is the amps and processor in their final places. Note the processor had to be moved to the floor due to the thickness of the back wall carpet and not being able to get it secured in that space after it was there. I was able to get both amps back to pretty much where they were before, but I did flip one upside down for wiring and to avoid sound interference.


Another shot from the other side showing the same stuff. Yes I still need to clean up that wiring but a lot was done between the before carpet shots and these. I removed A LOT.

TJPlatinumEB

And finally a couple images of the sub box and sub. This box is made of 3/4" MDF and comes already loaded with a sub of your choice by ebay seller rodneyt74. I bought two boxes from him for my '05 FX4 that I had previously and they were fantastic. He didn't disappoint here either.



I have ZERO engine noise and as I said above, you can't see anything and would never know there is a stereo in this truck unless you pulled the back seat up or down. As I said, I'm not trying to win any contests with it, just want something that sounds good and will stay that way for a long time to come

SkierMan

Since its fresh in your mind, do you think that it is possible to mount the power sliding window motor different? Like, flip the power sliding window motor so it is on top of the rail instead of below?

TJPlatinumEB

I really didn't want to mess with it. It may have been possible, but I didn't do that on my 05 w/ sliding rear window and didn't want to do it now. I may have made it more difficult on myself with installing the amps, but I didn't want to run the risk of causing damage to something I know nothing about.

On a side note, the MTX re-Q5 lasted all of 2 days?!?!?!?! The "smart sense" function that should make it turn the amps on itself is intermmitent at best and causing the system to turn on and off at random. I have the LC6i ordered and will hopefully get rid of this problem!

whelch1

Was there something you did to avoid engine noise? I want a similar system with the stock head unit but I don't want engine noise.

Chipsky

You shouldn't have engine noise unless there is an improper ground or faulty equipment.

TJPlatinumEB

I haven't suffered any engine noise in any vehicle I have done an install on in quite a few years now. Components have come a long way in the past 10 years and prevent a lot of it themselves.

A good rule of thumb for anyone is to run your power wires on the opposite side of the vehicle from any wires carrying any type of signal (RCA's, speaker, etc). I also use the same grounding point for both amps and the sound processor.

You will note in one of the pictures showing the common grounding point for both amps. I use that and then I get power and ground for the sound processor directly from the amp itself. In other words in the posts on the amp for battery and ground I have a 4 gauge wire into them as well as a small 16-18 gauge wire for the sound processor as well.

I've been doing installs this way for quite a number of years and have yet to have any issues with noise or ground problems. Component problems unfortunately happen from time to time though as I'm having now

Chipsky

I'm curious about your desire to have the Q5. The Ford OEM head units don't have roll-off built into them. Are you getting something else from it?

TJPlatinumEB

Could you be more specific? I guess I'm not understanding what you mean. Our trucks' speakers have about 6.15V of DC voltage going through them while the head unit is on. In "theory" it is supposed to detect that and use that signal as a trigger to turn itself on as well as the amps it is hooked up to. The one I received unfortunately is not working as it should when set up this way. I have verified the 6+ volts coming through that wire, but the re-Q5 is not responding to it.

The other way it works is just detecting a signal at all through one specific input wire and it will turn on. The problem with that is that between songs and if you pause a song or if there is a long pause in a conversation while on the phone, it will cut off and takes a bit to turn back on.

The LC6i I just ordered has similar features, but seems to be much more reliable than the re-Q5. I still may ultimately have to find a 12v remote wire in the stock system somewhere, but the re-Q5 is definitely not up to the task or I may have just gotten a bad one, I don't know.

stormsearch

That is not true of at least the '09+'s w/ non-Sony systems. When you turn up the volume, bass is decreased. Otherwise, the stock speakers with their high sensitivity would be trashed well before warranty is up.

TJF - I think you will end wanting to find a remote turn on lead, it is a never fail system, used vast majority of the time with no issues. Just find the accessory power feed, tap into it and add a fuse. Most of us on the newer trucks are finding the tap at the passenger kick panel. I forget the color of the wire. Actually, most guys are using an "add-a-fuse" to the accessory fuse in the passenger kick panel. Fuse #37 rings a bell, but I can't remember for sure.